Changes in involved and uninvolved limb function during rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: implications for Limb Symmetry Index measures.

BACKGROUND: Functional testing is used to assess anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction rehabilitation, with the goal of symmetric ability. The pattern of change in the uninvolved limb's function during rehabilitation is not established.

HYPOTHESES: (1) Involved and uninvolved limb ability increases during rehabilitation, but the uninvolved limb ability increases to a lesser degree. (2) Hop tests will show larger initial asymmetry and will improve the most with rehabilitation.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of 122 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction at our ambulatory surgery center and received multiple postoperative Standard Functional Tests (SFTs) between October 2009 and October 2013. Ten of the 12 individual tests within the SFT battery were analyzed. The patients' earliest and latest SFTs were compared for changes in Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) and absolute function in each limb. We also analyzed the subgroup with SFTs (n = 38) at both 4 and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: In all patients with multiple SFTs, involved limb performance increased in all tests except eyes-closed stork. Uninvolved limb performance increased in 4 SFT component tests and decreased in none. LSI significantly improved in 6 tests, all of which also showed involved limb improvement that was significant. Of these 6 tests, 5 showed initial LSI below 90%: single-leg squat, retro step-up, single-leg hop, crossover triple hop, and timed hop. Retro step-up and single-leg hop showed LSI improvements greater than 10 percentage points. In patients with 4- and 6-month data, involved limb performance increased in all tests except single-leg triple hop. Uninvolved limb performance increased in 5 SFT component tests and decreased in none. LSI significantly improved in 4 tests, all of which had initial LSI below 90%, and showed involved limb improvement that was significant. Retro step-up, single-leg hop, and crossover triple hop showed LSI improvements greater than 10 percentage points.

CONCLUSION: During ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, LSI improvements indicated absolute increases in involved limb ability and were not attributable to uninvolved limb deterioration. The single-leg squat, retro step-up, single-leg hop, crossover triple hop, and timed hop are suggested as highly useful tests, since all showed initial LSI below 90%, with significant LSI improvement after rehabilitation.